My husband asked me what I want for Christmas-Yahoo a chocolate temperer-we shall see-I gave him the picture- name, model number,
and price.
Happy Baking and Decorating,
Chef Angie

Congratz on your chocolate temperer, that should deffinantly lead to some fun!

I adore your signature line..... I laugh every time I read it... [/quote]

Thanks Laura.......I can't remember where I found it at. It's not something I came up with on my own. I use it on my email also...I had one of my friends tell me that it's just not the devil yelling when I get up it's everyone! LOL If he lived closer I'd have to hit him for that comment. lol

I made a lovely batch of homemade marshmallos and bagged 'em up cute with orange ribbon. I doubt we'll have trick or treaters, but we sure do have some hungry (and nosy!) friends

Okay, so I asked this question on a different thread, but I'll ask here too. If I'm making cake balls, with truffles in the middle, and coating in chocolate, can I freeze them? Will the freezer make the chocolate do funny things??? It's for a bereavement package, so it is REALLY important for them to be able to sit in the freezer for a while.
Thanks guys!

My thoughts would be just make sure they are in an air tight container. Also, make sure you thaw in the container. My only issue would be the condensation on the thawing process. Hopefully someone else can help more.

Thanks Jen. I'll do that!!!

Good grief, how did I miss this thread?? I'm glad it came up, I've been dabbling in chocolates and I still have a few questions. I guess I'll start by reading all 13 pages of this thread!

Bob...How do you always get behind on all the threads

Tempered chocolate should not go into the freezer. It will cause it to bloom.

If you absolutely must do it, you could put them in the freezer wrapped very air tight. Once out of the freezer check for blooming. The ones that have just re-dip so they have a 2nd coating of chocolate.

If your using chocolate like Merckens, that you don't need to temper, you won't have the blooming problems. I never did in the years I had my candy business.

Jenlg is correct that merkens won't bloom, if you must freeze use those.

Merkens are a form of melts which is not real chocolate so it should be fine. If it's real chocolate, then you'll have a problem.

okay, so if Merkens is a melt, can I use the Wilton melts and put them in the freezer???
Thanks guys!

It should be fine. However, Merkens melts taste better than the Wilton ones. (just my opinion.)
When are these for?
If you have a Sams membership they sell Ghiredalli dipping chocolate in milk chocolate flavor and white chocolate. This is basically their form of a melt. It tastes the best out of all of them I have tried and the closest to a real chocolate taste yet. They should be getting ready to stock them on the shelves soon because they only sell them at Christmas time. Sams has a deal with Ghiredalli so they are the only company that can sell their dipping chocolate (at least that's what Sams told me last year.)
If you can use this instead. It will really bump up the flavor of your product if you are planning on using melts.

I can't remember the prices. I just remember going "Sweet Goodness, this is cheap. Quick honey stand guard over the pallet while I go grab a cart." I walked out with a ton of product for $120. I had an entire case of dipping chocolate in white and dark. Plus they sell 6# bags of the Gheradelli chocolate chips at a pretty low price also. I don't even go to Sams hardly but I go at Holiday time and snap up this and bags of nuts. This will be the 3rd year I'll be going to get it. (hope they have it again this year.)

mkolmar.. Can you freeze them if you want to stock up ??
LAURA ! I thought about you today Im glad they were a hit ! have any pic,s ??

I will look for Merkins here, but up here in the far, far reaches of the North we don't tend to get some of the "good stuff"! I'll also look around for some Gheradelli.
Thanks to all of you for all your help!

mkolmar... I am headed to Sam's next week... before you start traveling around and buy it all up...

fiddlesticks.. sorry no pics... it's just candy, but you are right.. I should have taken some anyway, cause I have the cutest molds I love to use.. I promise to take some next time. I love doing candy for the holidays.. and cookies... the fun season is upon us..

Yes This is the best time for sugar creations !

CakesbyLJ--Poop! I should have never told. I live a few states north of you so your okay.

Fiddlesticks-You don't have to freeze them. They will hold for 1 year at the proper room temp. You probably could freeze them though. I always just keep it at room temp. however. I find it's easier since it will keep for 1 year.

Thanks, Good for a yr will work great ! Im always in Sams I will have to look for all that choc.

Those ghiradelli blocks tastes really good too... I deffinantly recommend them.

No trick or treaters! Not one! Pooey on condos I'm very dissapointed.

I will be going to SAMS for sure ! I had plenty of trick or treaters!

Stupid Canada. No Sams Club. UGH!!!
We didn't have that many TNT'ers either, and we live on a street full of houses and kids. I really don't know where they all went. We DID have a group of about 5 teenagers who came to the house like about 5 times, though. My neighbor told my DH. I didn't even notice!!! My DH put out a strobe light and I STILL have a headache!!!

Oh, yeah, I TOTALLY recommend the Ghiradelli! The Sam's down here all sell them for about $6.50 for 2 1/2 pounds. They've had them out since late September(ish). I keep buying a ton thinking it will last and Im still there every week buying more because I run out. ::sigh::.... I think Ive gone through at least 100 boxes since Sept. Darn cakeballs! For me, one box covers about 180 cake balls- dipped once. (Small Pampered Chef scoop size)

Thanks Julie ! Did anyone make any candy this weekend ?

I just got my molds in! I am SOOOO excited! This Sunday will be chocolate/cake day for me! Time to get fat for the holidays. although I dont think I can use the "winter pudge" excuse now that I'm in AZ... hehehe

chefjulie - what kind of cake balls do you make? I've made them a few times, and they taste ok, but I've never been a huge fan.

Oh, then you're not making them right
Im editing this to protect my business If you have questions about my cakeballs, just PM me and I'll happily share the recipe

I made Oreo truffle filling and caramel-bourbon toasted walnut filling (I think I need to make this a little thicker though) today. I plan on making chocolates tomorrow with them.
OHHHHH, (frantically flaps arms in excitement) I bought an airbrush! Should be coming in hopefully this week. I'm going to be spraying the chocolate molds with cocoa butter. Can't wait! I'm going to do the red-yellow combo first so it looks more like a red-orange-yellow sunset.

I live on a side street and we had only 8 trick-or-treaters. My neighbor has 5 kids so that means only 3 other kids came. We hardly ever get anyone so those who come get more. I had treat bags and each one had animal crackers-mini-vanilla wafer packs and a full sized candy bar.

Chefjulie--I make cake balls but can you pm me your flavor combo's. I'll share mine too. I only make mine with syrups and such....just can't get down the BC cake balls yet. (If you don't want to-that's fine too)